The BBC reported, that Oxford University today published a report stating that about half a unit of alcohol a day per person is safer than current guidelines of 3 - 4 units a day. The researchers involved claim that between 2,544 and 6,590 deaths per year could be avoided by following the new safer drinking advice.
Lead author Dr Melanie Nichols of the BHF Health Promotion Research
Group in the Department of Public Health at Oxford University said "Although there is good evidence that moderate alcohol consumption
protects against heart disease, when all of the chronic disease risks
are balanced against each other, the optimal consumption level is much
lower than many people believe,"
So what exactly does half a unit equate to? Roughly a quarter of a glass of wine or pint of beer. How did they arrive at this magic number? With a mathematical formula. No test subjects or observations were made of individuals drinking habits and health. The whole 'experiment' was completely hypothetical. Which makes this writer pretty interested as to why they bothered to publish it at all. It seems that we may be taking health advice not based on evidence but on theories. There is also no research into habits or methods of consumption.
This is one of those reports I would suggest get filed in the 'A' section of the shredder. As always people look to research, but check that what you're being told makes sense and has some credibility. See how many more 'reputable' media companies just churn it out as being solid facts.
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